Door panel assembly



March 28, 1967 Filed Jan. 18, 1965 47 X UQ- J.' H. BELL ETAL DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet l J1? H /JENS O R 62",?"0 l :59 Eygfezzafgzzgzg my@ .EQ E /W ATTORNEYS March 28, 1967 J, H, BELL ETAL 3,310,920

DOOR PANEL AS SEMBLY Filed Jan. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 157' Z INVENTORS cfa/zzz 19a/'Qld e v vefel-dfgz'm um@ Y ATrTQR-NEYS March 28, 1967 J. H. Bram.v ETAL 3,310,920

Doon PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS hlz Harald eZ W eefazgz/ M@ f/M ATTORNEYS March 28, 1967 J. H. BELL l-:TAL 3,310,920

DOOR PANEL AS SEMBLY Filed Jan. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Qakfjfl /Z// lf3 f2 7 x., j 5'@ @a j@ 99 J WZ fw 105 104 56V jf j """J/ 37 44 a 103 IN VEN T0125 :JO/zzz Harald elfl 13 90 Ezfeiazgzg A TTOR NE YS March 2s, 1967 .J BELL ETL 3,310,920

DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR eZZ Filed Jan. 18, 1965 United States Patent O 3,310,920 DGOR PANEL ASSEMBLY John Harold Bell and Everett E. Daniels, Litchfield, Ill., assignors to The Weather-Proof Company, Litchfield, Ill., a corporation of Ohio Fiied Jan. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 426,189 4 Claims. (Cl. 52-309) This invention relates to improvements in closure panels and more particularly relates to an improved form of door panel assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of door panel assembly arranged with a View toward utmost simplicity and eiciency in construction and operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of closure panel for door-ways and the like in which plastic panels are mechanically bonded to the closure frame assembly by pressing the closure frame assembly on a semi-liquid plastic panel before it has setup, and so arranging the :closure frame assembly as to have an interlocking connection 'between the assembly and panels as the panels harden.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door panel assembly having translucent panels in which the panels are spaced apart by a core and are interlocked with the core and the door frame assembly by the fluidity of the material of the panels when hot, and providing a mechanical and adhesive bond with the door frame assembly by cooling of the panels.

A still fur-ther object of the invention is to provide an improved form of prefabricated light weight panel particularly adapted for doors and the like, having a rectangular frame assembly and core bounded by the assembly and secured thereto, in which the core and assembly have diverging end portions providing mechanical interlocking means for interlocking engagement with translucent plastic panels, to form an integral translucent panel structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of door structure having a frame and a metal core with translucent fiberglass panels bonded thereto bythe fluidity of the panels when hot.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of panel, in -which the trim covers the exterior edges of the panel and is retained thereto by snapping or pounding the trim on the panel.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time -as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings where- FIGURE l is a front end view of a pre-hung door frame and door panel installed in an opening of a building looking at the frame and door panel from the outside of the building;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along line II-II of FIGURE 1 and showing the lower portion of the door panel, frame and threshold in transverse section;

FIGURE 2a is a fragmentary detail plan View with certain parts broken away in order to show the adjustment means for the cover for the inside threshold to conform the cover to the door;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line III-III of FIGURE l, and forming in effect a vertical continuation of FIGURE 2 and showing the top half of the door panel and frame in transverse section;

FIGURE 4 is a partial fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through the latch stile end of the door panel and frame substantially along line IV-IV of FIGURE l;

4FIGURE 5 is a partial fragmentary horizontal sectional 3,310,592@ Patented Mar. 28, 1967 View taken through the hinge stile end of the panel and frame -with the frame structure for the door opening broken away, and showing certain details of the hinge and frame structure;

FIGURE 6 is a -plan view of the panel frame, and core with the panels removed;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along line VII-VVII of FIGURE 6 and illustrates a connection of a core member to the panel frame;

FIGURE 8 is a plan View of one of the horizontal core members;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line IX-IX of FIGURIE 8;

FIGURE l0 is a plan view of one of the vertical core members; and

FIGURE l1 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line XI*XI of FIGURE l0.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, we have generally shown -in FIGURE 1 a door frame 10 mounted in a door opening in a building and having a panel 11 hinged thereto, to provide access to the interior of the building.

The door frame 10, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5, is made in exterior and interior parts with a thermal barrier therebetween and includes generally an exterior threshold 12 leading generally to the door panel -11 and an inside threshold 13 forming a continuation of the exterior threshold and having en-gagement at its inner end with a iioor 15 of the room. The door frame 10 also includes an exterior jamb 16 and an interior hinge jamb 17 forming a rear or inner continuation thereof and extending vertically along one side of the opening of the building (FIGURE 5). A similar exterior jamb 19 extends vertically along the opposite side of the building and has an interior latch jamb 20 forming an inner continuation thereof.

The exterior jambs 16 and 19 are connected together at their upper ends by -an exterior head 21. The interior jambs 17 and 20 are connected together at their upper ends by an interior head 23. The exterior jambs 16 and 19 are of a similar construction and have exterior trim 24 snapped thereto, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds. In a similar manner the exterior head 21 has trim 25 snapped thereto and extending across the top of the door opening. The interior jambs 17 and 2t`also have trim 26 snapped thereto, while the interior head 23 has trim 27 snapped thereto. The adjacent ends of the vertical trim and the horizontal trim are chamfered at angles of 45 to join the jamb and head trim and effect a pleasing door frame appearance.

The door panel 11 includes generally a hinge stile 29 and an opposite parallel latch stile 30. The Stiles 29 and 30 are connected together at their upper 'and lower ends by top and bottom rails 31 and 32, respectively. The adjacent ends of the stiles and rails are shown as being beveled at angles of 45 to provide an abutting rigid rectangular frame. Screws 33, which may be wood screws threaded in inwardly opening b-osses 35 (FIGURES 2 and 3) extending along the insides of the rails 31 and 32, are provided to hold the rails an-d stiles in assembled relation with respect to each other. The stiles 29 and 30 and rails 31 and 32 extend about an interlocking core 36, which may be made from metal, such .as aluminum, and which engages said stiles and rails, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds. The core 36 forms a core for plastic panels 37, 37 extending along opposite sides thereof and ,along the outer sides of the Stiles and rails.

The panels 37 may be made from any suitable plastic material, and preferably may be made from a translucent plastic material, one such suitable translucent plastic being known to the trade as fiberglass rI`he stiles 29 and 30 and the rails 31 and 32 are of the same cross section so the detailed structure of the hinge stile 29 only, need be described herein, and like reference numerals will be applied to like parts of the stiles and rails. As shown in FIGURE 7, the stile 29 is generally channel-like in cross section and has a vertically extending web 39 facing the hinge jamb. The web 39 has opposite angular end portions 40, 4t) extending angularly outwardly of the web and terminating into generally parallel leg portions 41, 41 extending perpendicularly to the web. The leg portions 41 extend forwardly and rearwardly of the inclined end portions 40, 4i) and form interlocking `connections for the plastic panels 37.

The inwardly extending leg portion 41 has an outwardly opening slot 43 extending therealong for the length thereof. The slot 43 diverges from its outer side, to form a generally dovetail shaped slot to be partially embedded in an associated panel 37 when the panel is in a liquid or Semi-liquid form `and provide a mechanical interlock with said panel upon hardening of the panel. The portion of the leg 41 extending inwardly of the slot 43 toward the center of the panel, in eliect forms a generally dovetail tongue 44 terminating into an inwardly extending rib 4S defining the inner end of the leg 41 and extending for the length thereof. The rib 45 is adapted to extend along the wall of a notch 46 of a horizontal core section 47, it being understood from FIGURE 8 that the core sections 47 have notches opening at the corners of opposite sides thereof and at opposite ends thereof, to form a guide means for said core sections, when assembled to the Stiles 29 and 30 and the rails 31 and 32.

The portions of the legs 41 extending toward the outer side of the panel have inwardly facing hook-like ribs 49 on the insides thereof, facing the inclined portions 40 of the channel and extending for the length of the channel to have interengagement with `outwardly facing slots 51 formed in parallel retaining legs 53, extending inwardly of a cover 55 for the stile 29. v

As shown in FIGURE 4 the cover 55 extends across the edge of the stile and has inwardly curved end lips 56 abutting the ends of the panels 37. The cover S may thus be snapped to the stile 29. Similar covers 55 are provided for the top rail 31, the stile and the bottom rail 32.

The latch stile Btl may be drilled in a suitable manner to form a mounting for a latch (not shown) and to have a latch bolt (not shown) project therethrough. In a similar manner the latch stile cover may have a suitable opening therein to allow the latch bolt (not shown) to project therethrough into engagement with a keeper (not shown) in the interior jamb 2t).

The hinge stile 29 may be suitably drilled to form a mounting for hinges 60, 60. The hinges 60, 60 may be of a conventional form and are no part of the present invention so need not herein be shown or described further. The cover 55 for the hinge stile may be slotted (not shown) to receive the hinges and to accommodate the cover to be snapped to the stile.

The interlocking core 36 may be of any desired design, which will ll the space Within the stiles and rails and rigidity the panels 37, 37 and present a pleasing appearance through the translucent panels. The core 37, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 8 to 11 inclusive comprises a plurality of parallel horizontal core sections or strips 47 and a plurality of parallel interlockingly engaged vertical core sections or strips 48. The core sections 47 and 48 may be made from aluminum extrusions. The core section 47 is shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 as having a thickened central portion 61 forming a rigidifying rib extending to opposite sides of the section for the length thereof. The core section 47 also has opposite outwardly flared end portions 63, generally dovetail in form to be pressed into engagement with the semi-liquid panels 37 and to interlock with said panels upon hardening thereof. The core sections 47 also have a plurality of parallel slots 65 extending therein frorn the side thereof and of widths slightly 4 larger than the widths of thickened portions 67 of the vertical core strips 4S, to accommodate the vertical core strips to be moved into interlocking engagement with the horizontal core sections along slots 66 of the vertical core sections, and extending along opposite sides of the thickened portions 61 of the horizontal core sections.

The vertical core sections 48 like the horizontal core sections 47 have opposite outwardly iiared end portions 68 of a generally dovetail formation, to be pressed into the semi-liquid panels and form an interlocking connection therewith, upon hardening of the panels. The verrtical core sections 48 also have corner notches 69* at the corners of opposite ends thereof, adapted to have engagement with ribs 45 extending along the insides of the legs of the rails of the channels.

Upon assembly of the rails, stiles and core, the panel frame may be lowered onto a semi-liquid plastic panel and pressed thereinto by the weight of the panel frame. The plastic panel may then be allowed to harden to provide .an interlocking connection between the panel frame and core, and the plastic panel, as shown in FIG- URES 2, 3, 4 and 5. The panel frame with one plastic panel secured thereto may then be raised and turned upside down and lowered onto another semi-liquid plastic panel 37 in accurate alignment therewith. The second plastic panel may then be allowed to harden, to interlock the panel with the panel frame and. core. The excess plastic may then be trimmed to the door frame.

The covers S5, properly mitered to give a pleasing appearance at the corners and notched to receive the hinges and a latch, are then snapped into place around the perimeter of the pan-el. The door panel is then ready for assembly to the door frame 10 in a conventional manner, it being understood that the door panel may be hung to the inner door frame, and the frame and threshold, with the door panel assembled thereto, may be shipped for installation in the form of a pre-hung assembly.

The threshold is shown in FIGURE 2 as comprising the outside threshold 12 and the inside threshold 13 forming an inside continuation thereof and adapted for use on varying heights of inside and outside floors, to make it possible to use the threshold for solid types of doors wh-ich cannot be planed.

The outside threshold 12 is in the form of a licor or tread plate 70 mounted on a plurality of spaced supporting legs 71, 72 and 73. In the form of the invention shown, the legs 71, 72 and 73 place the floor plate 70 at a relatively flat upwardly inclined angle toward the door to enable water to drain away from the door. The outside threshold 12 is mounted at its forward end on a plate 75 having spaced outwardly facing gibbed retainer guides 76 extending along opposite sides thereof to receive inwardly extending ribs 77 and 78 of the respective legs '71 and, 72. The plates 75 may be screwed to the floor and the legs 71 and 72 may be snapped to engage the ribs 77 and 78 with the outwardly gibbed retainer guides 76, 76.

The rear leg 73 has a rearwardly opening semicylindrical socket 80 extending therealong and engaged by the semi-cylindrical end 81 of a plate S2 of the inside threshold 13. As shown in FIGURE 2, the plate 82 is of a modified Z shape in form and extends from the outside threshold 12 to the ioor 15 and has an adjustable tread end 83 resting on the floor. The tread end 83 extends from the oor over the inner end of the plate y82 and with said, plate for-ms a groove 85, to receive the end of a pliable plastic cover 84, which forms a thermal barrier and weatherstrip between the outside and inside threshold and the door panel. The plate 32 also has an upwardly projecting rib `86 extending upwardly therefrom intermediate its ends and extending for the length thereof transversely of the door frame and terminating in a rearwardly or inwardly extending rounded bead 87 engageable within a socket 88 formed in an adjustable inside cover support 89. The inside cover or thermal barrier support 89 is adjustably mounted on the plate or mounting member 82 and has a ledge 90 projecting therefrom, toward the oor 15 and extending for the length of the threshold.

Spaced adjustment screws 91 are threaded in the ledge 90 and engage the plate l82 t-o adjust the cover support 89 and cover supported thereon. Spaced locking `screws 92 loosely pass through the ledge 90 and are threaded in the plate 82 to lock the cover support 89 and cover and thermal barrier 84 in place.

The cover support 89 has two parallel spaced upwardly opening gibbed grooves extending therealong. The gibbed grooves form retaining mountings for the hooklike ends of legs 94 and 95 depending from the cover or thermal barrier 84. The Aadjustable cover support 89 may thus retain the cover and thermal barrier 84 in adjusted position with respect to the inside threshold 13, and may adjust said cover and thermal barrier to seal the bottom of the door panel 11.

The outside threshold 12, the inside threshold 13 and the adjustable cover support 89 may be made from aluminum extrusions while the cover and thermal barrier -84 may be made from a vinyl material having suicient flexibility to readily conform to the angle of the outside threshold 12 after adjustment of the support 89 in accordance with various levels of the floor with respect to the plate 70 of the outside threshold 12, to enable the door to readily tit in its frame without necessitating alteration or planing of the door panel. The threshold is als-o so formed, that all adjustment and mounting screws are hidden after install-ation and adjustment of the cover 84.

The entrance frame may be used with any'form of door and includes an exterior frame formed from the exterior jambs 16 and 19 and the head 21 connecting the jambs together, and an interior frame formed from the interior jambs 17 and 20 and interior head 23. The interior and exterior jambs and heads may be rnade from aluminum extrusions and may have a thermal barrier therebetween.

Y The exterior jambs 16 and 19 are of the same construction, so the same part numbers will be applied to each jamb and one only need herein be shown and described in detail. The exterior jamb 19, as shown in FIGURE 4, includes a plate section 96 having a Ifront leg 97 extending inwardly therefrom toward the wooden or masonry framework of the door opening, and shown as being spaced therefrom. An intermediate leg 98 extends inwardly from the plate 96 into engagement with a shim 98a used for squaring the door in the opening and spaced between the metal jamb and the framework of the door opening. The undersurface of the plate 96 has a rearwardly or inwardly facing gibbed guide 99 extending vertically therealong to receive the forward or outer end of a plate section 100 of the interior jamb 20. As shown in FIGURE 4, a strip of thermal barrier tape 101 is interposed between the inner or underside of the plate 96 and the adjacent side of the plate 100. The interior and exterior jambs may then be riveted or otherwise secured together. Screws 102 are shown as extending through the plates 96 and 100 to secure the jambs to the -framework of the building. The plate 96 extends inwardly along the plate 100 to a shoulder 103 formed therein, and has a right angled leg 104 extending toward the door panel 11, but spaced outwardly therefrom and parallel thereto, when the door panel is in its closed position.

The leg 104 has a gibbed slot 105 extending vertically therealong and opening toward the door panel and forming a mounting for a thermal barrier, which may be a wool pile or vinyl barrier. The leg 104, therefor, in effect forms a door stop and support for insulating material extending between the door frame and door. lThe leg 104 has a hook-like rib 107 extending along its extreme inner end and facing the front of the frame and adapted to be engaged by a hook-like recess formed by an inwardly extending inclined rib 109 extending along the inner side of a door stop 110. The door stop 110 is generally in the form of an angle and has a right angled forward leg adapted to be snapped into engagement with a groove 111 in the plate 96 and extending vertically therealong. The door stop 110 may thus readily be snapped in position, after the door frame has been installed into the framework of the door opening, and hides the attaching screws `and also adds support to the Weatherstripped door stop 104.

The leg 97 has parallel .spaced ribs 112 extending therealong and facing toward the front of the building. The ribs have inclined ho-ok-like inner faces adapted to be engaged by hook-like end portions 113, 113 of legs 115, 115 of the exterior trim 24, to accommodate the exterior trim 24 to be pounded or snapped into engagement with the jamb 19, upon assembly of the jamb to the framework of the door.

The front face of the exterior trim 10 may be of vari-ous desired forms, to provide a utilitarian trim having a pleasing appearance and to conceal the framework of the door opening, or to span the opening between the inner and louter courses of a masonry wall. `frame of the trim 24 has an inwardly extending right angled leg 116 sealed to the opening of the building, as by a suitable caulking compound, indicated generally by reference character 117.

The interior jamb 20 has an inner leg 119 extending inwardly therefrom to the framework of the door opening and forming a spacer for the plate 100, and to support the door frame rigidly in place when screwed down against the shims 98a. The jamb 20 also has a right angled leg portion 120 extending along the inner side of the wooden framework of the building and secured thereto by screws 121. The leg portion 120 has retaining recesses 122 extending therealong and diverging as they extend toward the leg portion 120, and forming snap on retainers accommodating the interior trim 27 to he snapped or pounded into engagement therewithin a manner similar to which the exterior trim 24 is snapped into engagement with the exterior jamb 19.

The exterior head 21 is similar in cross section to the exterior jamb 19 and has an intermediate upwardly extending spacer leg engaging the underside of the framework of the door opening and an inwardly facing retainer gib 126 adapted to be engaged by the forward end portion 127 of a plate 129 of the interior head 23. A strip of thermal barrier tape 130 may be interposed between the underside of the plate 127 of the interior head and a plate 129 of the exterior head.

The exterior head 21 has a downwardly extending leg 133 having a'hooked end portion adapted to engage Within an inclined hook-like rib 135 extending along the inside of a horizontally extending door stop 136. The door stop 136 has a front leg 137 snapped into a groove 138 extending along the exterior head 121 and opening toward the ground. The exterior head 21 also has a front vertically extending leg 139 extending inwardly toward the framework of the door opening and having spaced interlocking hook-like ribs 140, 140 extending therealong and adapted to have interlocking engagement with hook-like ends 141 of parallel legs 142 of the cxterior head trim 25. The exterior hea-d trim 25 may be like the exterior jamb trim 24 and has an inwardly extending leg 143 caulked to the door opening as by caulking compound 144 after the frame has been secured 'in place in the door opening.

The interior head 23 is also like the interior jamb 20 and has a vertically extending leg 12S engageable with a shim 12511 and an inner vertically extending leg portion 145 extending along the inside of the framework for the building. The interior head trim 27 is snapped to facing diverging retaining grooves 147 extending along the inside of the leg portion 145 in the same manner the interior trim is pounded or snapped into engagement with the interior jambs.

The front In assembling the door frame, the interior and exterior frame sections may each be pre-assembled. Insulating or heat barrier tape 101 may be placed along the outer surface of the plate 100 along the outer end portion thereof. Insulating or heat barrier tape 130 may also be placed along the outer surface of the plate 127. The interior and exterior frame sections may then be drawn together, with the plate 100 engageable within the gibbed guide 99 and the heat barrier tape between the plates 100 and 96, and with the plate 127 engageable within the gibbed guide 126 and the heat barrier tape 130 between the plates 127 and 129.

When the interior and exterior frame sections have been drawn together they may be retained in connected relation with respect thereto, as by machine screws or rivets in alignment with the screws 102 and 131. The assembled interior and exterior frame sections may then be screwed or otherwise secured to opposite sides of the threshold, to form a unitary door frame. The door panel may then be assembled to the frame and the frame and panel may be suitably packed and shipped to a building site, with the trim separate from the frame, to be snapped `onto the frame after the frame is level and securely fastened to a door opening in a building.

The assembled frame with the threshold either with or without the door panel, may then be placed in a door opening of a building. Shims 98a of the required thickness may then be placed under the legs 98 `and 119. Similar shirns 12in may also be placed between the legs 125 and 128 and the framework of the doorway to level and space the head in the proper relation with respect to the framework of the doorway. When the framework is level with respect to the doorway, screws 102 are driven through holes in the preassembled inner and outer jarnbs and through the shims 98a into the rough opening of the building. Other screws 121 are driven through holes in the leg portions 12@ of the interior jambs into the rough opening of the building. Similar screws 131 are driven through holes in the connected interior `and exterior head between the legs 125 and 128 into the shim 125a and the rough opening in the building. Screws 146 are also driven through the leg portion 145 into the rough opening of the building.

The inside threshold 13 and cover support 89 may then be adjusted to the door and lioor to accommodate free swinging movement of the door and to retain air from passing beneath the door, by removing the inner edge of the vinyl cover and thermal barrier 84 from the groove 85. The locking screws 92 and adjustment screws 91 are then exposed. The locking screws 92 may then be loosened and the set or adjustment screws 91 may be turned until the cover support or thermal barrier 84 is in proper relation with respect to the door and Hoor, to seat the door when closed. Upon adjustment of the cover support 89 and cover and thermal barrier 84, the locking screws 92 may then be tightened to lock the cover support 89 and cover 84 in place. The edge of the vinyl cover may then be replaced in the groove 85 extending along the inside threshold 13.

Upon leveling and fastening the door frame and `threshold to the door opening in the building, the inside of the door opening m-ay be plastered and painted. The jarnb stops 110 and the head stop 136 may then be snapped or pounded into position to conceal the screws 102 and 131. The exterior trim 24 and 25 may then be pounded or snapped into position and caulked to the opening of the building. The interior trim 26 and 27 may then be snapped or pounded into place. The interior and exterior trim and the door stops, as well as the vinyl cover for the threshold, therefore, cover all fastening members, and are placed in position by a simple snapping action.

vIt may be seen from the foregoing that a new and improved closure panel has been provided, which may serve as a door or las a closure for any suitable opening,

and that the panel itself is a rigidl assembly having translucent front and rear panels rigidifed by a core carried by the frame for the panels, and that the panels are mechanically bonded to the frame and core by pressing the frame and core onto the panels while the panels are in a semi-liquid form and allowing the panels to set or harden to form a mechanically bonded interlock between the panels, core and frame therefor.

While we have herein shown and described one form in which our invention may be embodied, it may readily be understood that various variations and modifications in the invention may -be attained without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a closure panel particularly adapted for doors and the like, a rectangular frame comprising:

a pair of parallel lstiles and parallel top and bottom rails connecting said stiles together,

said rails and stiles being generally channel-like in cross section and each having a web and parallel legs extending inwardly of said web,

said legs each having an outwardly opening recess on each side thereof, extending therealong and diverging from the outer to the inner end thereof as it extends inwardly of the associated leg,

a metal core bounded by said stiles and rails and comprising a plurality of connected metal core strips connected together intermediate their ends and having notched end portions engageable within the channellike surfaces of said stiles and rails and having opposite edges aring outwardly for the lengths thereof to form generally dove-tail interlocking extremities,

and plastic panels having mechanical interlocking engagement with said stiles, rails and outwardly tiared dove-tail formations of said core 4strips by applying said plastic panels to said stiles, rails and core strips in semi-liquid states and mechanically retaining said panels to said stiles, rails `and core strips by hardening of said panels upon cooling.

2. A closure panel in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the plastic panels are made from translucent fiberglass.

3. The structure of claim 1,

wherein the core is inthe form of a lattice-like grill including Slat-like core strips having slots extending from one edge thereof toward the center thereof for engagement with associated slotted core strips,

and wherein the ends of the core strips extend between the legs of the channel-like connected rails and stiles.

4. The structure of claim 3,

wherein the core includes a plurality of inter-engaged core strips extending in angular relation with respect to each other to form a lattice-like rigidifying grill,

wherein the core strips have rigidifying ribs extending longitudinally therealong to opposite ysides of the strips, and have a plurality of parallel slots opening to the edges thereof and extending transversely thereof into said ribs and of a width to engage said ribs to form a rigid core of a lattice-like form.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Sklar 189-46 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. IN A CLOSURE PANEL PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR DOORS AND THE LIKE, A RECTANGULAR FRAME COMPRISING: A PAIR OF PARALLEL STILES AND PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOM RAILS CONNECTING SAID STILES TOGETHER, SAID RAILS AND STILES BEING GENERALLY CHANNEL-LIKE IN CROSS SECTION AND EACH HAVING A WEB AND PARALLEL LEGS EXTENDING INWARDLY OF SAID WEB, SAID LEGS EACH HAVING AN OUTWARDLY OPENING RECESS ON EACH SIDE THEREOF, EXTENDING THEREALONG AND DIVERGING FROM THE OUTER TO THE INNER END THEREOF AS IT EXTENDS INWARDLY OF THE ASSOCIATED LEG, A METAL CORE BOUNDED BY SAID STILES AND RAILS AND COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CONNECTED METAL CORE STRIPS CONNECTED TOGETHER INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS AND HAVING NOTCHED END PORTIONS ENGAGEABLE WITHIN THE CHANNELLIKE SURFACES OF SAID STILES AND RAILS AND HAVING OPPOSITE EDGES FLARING OUTWARDLY FOR THE LENGTHS THEREOF TO FORM GENERALLY DOVE-TAIL INTERLOCKING EXTREMITIES, AND PLASTIC PANELS HAVING MECHANICAL INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STILES, RAILS AND OUTWARDLY FLARED DOVE-TAIL FORMATIONS OF SAID CORE STRIPS BY APPLYING SAID PLASTIC PANELS TO SAID STILES, RAILS AND CORE STRIPS IN SEMI-LIQUID STATES AND MECHANICALLY RETAINING SAID PANELS TO SAID STILES, RAILS AND CORE STRIPS BY HARDENING OF SAID PANELS UPON COOLING. 